MANY Malaysians have a serious concern: How long will Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s unity government last now that it is fully operational and all ministers have gone about their businesses?
According to DAP veteran Lim Kit Siang, the longevity of Anwar and his unity government will be determined by how well they pass six “survival tests” during their first year in office.
Lim noted the first litmus test for Anwar’s government starts with the opening of the Dewan Rakyat on Dec 19 and that is when the Parliament will decide who the new Speaker will be.
While the unity government has yet to indicate which of its MPs would be suggested for the Speaker role, Perikatan Nasional (PN) had already announced that it will send the names of those from the coalition it believes should be appointed.
The second test, Lim noted, is the passing of the vote of confidence motion for Anwar as prime minister in Parliament on Dec 20, 2022.
Recall that in the aftermath of GE15, PN had criticised Anwar’s appointment as prime minister and had challenged him to demonstrate if he had a majority in Parliament
In the aftermath of the elections in November, the PN was not satisfied that Anwar was chosen as the new Prime Minister of Malaysia.
Calling on Anwar to prove that he had the support of the majority of MPs, PN chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said he had 115 statutory declarations from MPs backing him for the top post.
In response, Anwar had, on Nov 24, announced that the main agenda for the first parliamentary sitting on Dec 19 will be to table a vote of confidence towards him.
The third test, Lim said, is the upcoming UMNO General Assembly on Jan 11–14 to elect new office-bearers.
Note that this is also a big test for UMNO president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who is said to be the architect of the UMNO alliance with Pakatan Harapan.
Again, recall Zahid’s “No DAP, No Anwar” battle cry prior to GE15. With a slew of pending court cases hanging over his head and Barisan Nasional’s defeat in GE15, the embattled party president was criticised even members of the party.
Lim’s fourth test is the passage in Parliament of the Motion of Thanks for the Royal Address at the opening of Parliament, which in effect is the government’s policy programme for the year. Again, this will depend on the numbers that Anwar has in Parliament.
Approval for the 2023 Budget will be the fifth test and if the unity government can survive these five tests in the next few months, Lim said it will then have to face the sixth test – the state polls in Penang, Selangor, Negri Sembilan, Kedah, Kelantan and Terengganu.
“Perikatan Nasional (PN) will do its utmost to make gains in these six states to topple Anwar’s government.
“In fact, the PN Negri Sembilan chairman had declared that the Negri Sembilan PN is aiming to win at least 19 out of the 36 state seats to enable the coalition to form a state government,” he said, adding that PH should not take PN’s “threat” lightly whether in Negri Sembilan or the other five states. – Dec 13, 2022
Main pic credit: Suara Merdeka
